Elevated train

ABSTRACT

Elevated train comprised of one or more wagons ( 1 ) that move suspended from a rail ( 2 ) or the like. This rail is provided at the train stops with at least two transverse gaps that determine a segment ( 5 ) from which said train is suspended, with this segment in turn suspended from elevation device ( 7 ) that allow its displacement in a vertical sense together with said train between an upper position for circulation and a bottom one in which it rests on or is next to the ground.

The present invention relates to an elevated train comprised of one ormore wagons, which moves suspended from a rail or the like and isspecifically intended for transporting passengers in cities.

Elevated trains are a transport system that is particularly applicablefor transport inside cities, as its installation does not interfere withsurface transport.

Already known are elevated trains that travel and at all times remain ata nearly constant height above the ground, sufficient to allow themovement of vehicles and people under its structure. This systemrequires building elevated platforms with the corresponding passengerloading and unloading accesses, which results in an increased cost ofthe structure; furthermore, building platforms with their accessesconstitutes an obstacle at street level.

In order to avoid this problem elevated trains are already knowncomprising one or more wagons that move along a rail and that can alsomove vertically between extreme positions, a top one in which they areable to travel along the rail, and a bottom one in which the wagon orwagons rest on or are next to the ground, in order to allow entry andexit of passengers from street level.

In this sense can be cited patents EP 016452, GB 1166109, GB 2305645, FR2666778 and DE 4112827, as well as Spanish Patent application no.9900140 of the applicant.

In all of the above cases each of the train wagons is provided with atop structure that is connected to the rail for its displacement alongit. The wagon or wagons are connected to said structure by a mechanismthat allows said wagon to move vertically between the uppermost andlowermost positions. The vertical motion means may consist of hydrauliccylinders, levers, cables, etc.

This system is also expensive, as each wagon of the train must beprovided with the upper structure and the elevation means.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-describedproblems by means of an elevated train that does not constitute anobstacle at street level and which furthermore does not includeexpensive parts or elements in its construction.

The train of the invention is characterised in that the rail along whichthe train may travel is provided at the stopping areas for loading andunloading passengers with at least two transverse gaps that determine asegment from which said train is suspended. This segment can beseparated from the rest of the rail and is suspended from elevationmeans that allow its vertical motion, together with the train suspendedfrom said segment, between two end positions, an upper one in which therail segment constitutes a prolongation of the adjacent segments of therail, and a bottom one in which the wagon suspended from the rail restson or is next to the ground, in order to allow loading and unloadingpassengers at street level.

With the above-described construction the train wagons do not require asupporting structure and elevation means. The wagons will be simplyprovided with the means to allow their displacement along the rail. Atthe stopping points provided for loading and unloading passengers therail includes a separable segment that is suspended from elevationmeans, with the dimensions of this segment being large enough to allowthe wagon or wagons comprising the train to be suspended from it.

With the above-described construction it is only necessary to installelevation means at the points where the train stops.

In this way, the structure or installation of the train is simplified,and in particular the cost of the installation is reduced considerablywith respect to the previously cited traditional systems.

The elevation means can be comprised of one or more hydraulic cylinders,which may be complemented by vertical guides.

According to another characteristic of the invention, at points wherethe train stops to load and unload passengers the installation isprovided at the position of the rail segment defined between twoconsecutive gaps, with a second rail segment, parallel and with the samelength. The two segments can move laterally on guides for their mutualsubstitution in the positions of alignment with the adjacent segments ofsaid rail.

This possibility will allow trains to cross at the stations or stops, aswell as allowing a later train to pass.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood in view of the following description, made with reference tothe accompanying drawings, which show an example of a non-limitingembodiment.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an elevated train constructedaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the train of FIG. 1 in an elevatedposition.

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2, with the train in the lowermostposition.

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 1, showing a possible construction toallow trains to cross and overtake each other.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the rail, with the train suspension androlling means.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an elevated train labelled with the number 1 andwhich can be comprised of one or two wagons, suspended from a rail 2along which it can move. The rail 2 is mounted on columns or posts 3with a sufficient height so that the train 1 is not an obstacle tovehicles and people moving along the ground or street 4.

The posts or columns 3 may be of different types and nature, as may therail 2.

According to the present invention, at the areas where the train stopsto load or unload passengers the rail 2 includes an independent segment5, separated from the rest of the rail 2 by transverse gaps. Thissegment 5 is suspended from a structure 6 by elevation mechanisms thatcan consist of hydraulic cylinders 7.

By means of this elevation mechanism the segment 5 can move verticallybetween an uppermost position shown in FIG. 2, in which it is placed asa prolongation of the adjacent rail segments, and a bottommost positionshown in FIG. 3, in which the wagons 1 rest on or are next to theground, to allow loading and unloading passengers.

In order to ensure the vertical displacement of the wagons 1, verticalguides 8 may be provided in addition to the cylinders 7.

With the above-described construction when the wagons 1 are in theuppermost position of FIG. 2 they do not represent an obstacle for themotion of vehicles and people on the street, while when they are placedin the position of FIG. 3 they allow a simple loading of passengers, allof this without requiring to build elevated stations and requiring onlyto install elevation mechanisms at the stops or stations.

The rail 2 can have a box-girder cross-section as shown in FIG. 5, forlattice structures, and be externally provided with top and bottom angleirons 10 and 11. On top of the latter run wheels 12 for the displacementof the vehicle which can be driven by engines 13 through thecorresponding shaft 14. The upper profiles 10 can be used to supportelectric power lines with which power take-offs 15 make contact. Inaddition, intermediate auxiliary sections 16 can be provided on whichmay roll vertical-axle wheels 17 that stop the wagons 1 from swaying.

In order to allow trains to cross and overtake each other, the stops maybe provided with an additional rail segment 18 with the samecharacteristics and length as the segment 5 and parallel to it. Both thesegment 5 and the segment 18 of the rail can move transversely onhorizontal rails 19.

With this construction, when the train 1 is at a station and anothertrain must cross or overtake it the rail 5, with the suspended wagons 1,is moved to the position 5′. The auxiliary segment 18 is then movedsideways until it occupies the original position of the rail segment 5,so that it determines a prolongation of the adjacent rail segments, inorder to allow another train to pass. After the second train has passedthe inverse process is followed so that the segment 5 returns to itsoriginal position, allowing the wagons 1 to continue their motion.

The segment 18 can also be provided with cylinders 7′ to allow thecrossing or overtaking train to occupy the bottommost position of FIG. 3for loading and unloading passengers.

The rails 2 can adopt any configuration or structure, as can the columns3. Any system may be used for the motion and electric power connectionof the wagons 1 different from the one described, as neither theconstruction of the rail 2 nor the columns 3 nor the rolling systemconstitute part of the invention.

1. An elevated train suspended from a rail elevated at a height above aground level, comprising at least one wagon that travels along a routehaving stations for boarding and/or disembarking of passengers, andhaving a portion of the rail at a station to define a station segment, aportion of the rail preceding the station segment to define a precedingsegment, and a portion of the rail following the station segment todefine a following segment, wherein the station segment comprises atleast two transverse gaps so as to define a first rail segment, thefirst rail segment having a length equal to a distance between thepreceding segment and the following segment, the train being suspendedfrom the first rail segment when the train is in a station, firstelevation means being provided for suspending the train and for allowingthe first rail segment together with the train to be displaced in avertical direction between two extreme positions, the two positionsincluding an upper position in which the first rail segment is locatedbetween the preceding segment and the following segment so as to definea continuous rail route, and a bottom position in which the trainsuspended from the first rail segment rests on or is next to the groundso as to allow boarding and/or disembarking of passengers at groundlevel, a second rail segment being provided parallel to the first railsegment and having a length equal to the length of the first railsegment, the first rail segment and the second rail segment beingconfigured to move sideways on guides for replacing one another in theupper position and for aligning with the preceding segment and thefollowing segment.
 2. The elevated train according to claim 1, whereinthe elevation means comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder.
 3. Theelevated train according to claim 1, wherein the first elevation meansfurther comprise vertical guides.
 4. The elevated train according toclaim 1, wherein the second rail segment is suspended by secondelevation means for allowing the second rail segment to move verticallybetween the upper position and the bottom position.
 5. The elevatedtrain according to claim 2, wherein the first elevation means furthercomprise vertical guides.
 6. The elevated train according to claim 2,wherein the second rail segment is suspended by second elevation meansfor allowing the second rail segment to move vertically between theupper position and the bottom position.
 7. The elevated train accordingto claim 3, wherein the second rail segment is suspended by secondelevation means for allowing the second rail segment to move verticallybetween the upper position and the bottom position.
 8. The elevatedtrain according to claim 5, wherein the second rail segment is suspendedby second elevation means for allowing the second rail segment to movevertically between the upper position and the bottom position.